Elemental mercury is used by artisanal and small-scale miners in gold production in gold mines in Migori and other areas in western Kenya.
The pattern of clinical intoxication from mercury depends on the chemical form of the metal, route of exposure, dosage and the duration of exposure.
The local mine use their bare hands to mix the mercury with soil so as to form an amalgam which is then burned to evaporate the mercury and leave the gold behind.
Mercury fumes being volatile are highly toxic which is why smelters show more severe signs of mercury poisoning than miners . . .
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